Device for a vehicle

ABSTRACT

A device for a vehicle, which is attached to a vehicle, in particular, a commercial vehicle, and in which at least one or multiple surroundings sensor(s) is/are attached, a housing wall of the device being made from a material pervious to sensor radiation, and at least one housing wall of the device being made from a material absorbing sensor radiation.

CROSS REFERENCE

The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 ofGerman Patent Application No. DE 102019213170.0 filed on Aug. 30, 2019,which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present invention relates to a device for a vehicle, which isattached to a vehicle, in particular, a commercial vehicle, and in whichat least one or multiple surroundings sensor(s) is/are attached, ahousing wall of the device, preferably the wall in the direction of thedetection area of the surroundings sensors, being made from a materialpervious to sensor radiation, and at least one housing wall of thedevice, preferably the wall which is oriented in a direction oppositethe detection area of the surroundings sensors, being made from amaterial absorbing sensor radiation.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A device for installing a sensor assembly at a motor vehicle isdescribed in German Patent Application No. DE 10 2010 034 073 A1, which,in particular, is situated on a bumper of the motor vehicle and includesa molded part, which has a solid design and is designed to be perviousto sensor signals, between the sensor assembly and the motor vehicleattachment part. The molded part encloses the sensor assembly in aform-locked manner in the process and includes a surface which is shapedin a complementary manner to the surface of the motor vehicle attachmentpart.

Such an integration of a sensor into a bumper of a vehicle is onlypossible for positioning sensors on the front side and rear side of thevehicle. Further installation positions, in particular, laterally on thevehicle, cannot be meaningfully created in this way. Furthermore, theintegration of sensors into body parts of the vehicle according to therelated art is not suitable for vehicles which do not include any bodyparts that go all the way around the vehicle, as is the case withcommercial vehicles, for example.

SUMMARY

In accordance with and example embodiment of the present invention, adevice is provided in which one or multiple surroundings sensor(s) maybe accommodated, and which has sensor-transparent properties in thedirection of the detection areas of the surroundings sensors. In theopposite direction, in particular, also in all other directions which donot correspond to the direction of the detection area, the device mayadvantageously be designed to be radiation-absorbing. The device mayadvantageously be installed on supporting motor vehicle parts, forexample a vehicle ladder frame.

Advantageous refinements and embodiments of the present invention aredescribed herein.

Advantageously, in accordance with an example embodiment of the presentinvention, it is provided that the device includes a shared power supplyand/or a shared connection to at least one data bus system of thevehicle. This shared power supply may take over the power supply of allsensors accommodated in the device. In addition or as an alternative,the data bus connection may connect all sensors accommodated in thedevice to a motor vehicle bus system and enable the data exchange withother vehicle systems. It is furthermore possible that both the powersupply and the data bus connection of all sensors takes place via anindividual multi-core cable or a wiring harness.

In this way, it is possible that a dedicated power supply and adedicated data bus connection does not have to be implemented for eachsensor, whereby the wiring complexity is reduced. The data bus systemmay be a data transfer system, a data interface or a data communicationsystem.

It is furthermore advantageous if the surroundings sensors are radarsensors. Radar sensors are today manufacturable to be very small andvery cost-effective and are suitable for monitoring the vehiclesurroundings and informing the driver if road users, such as bicyclists,are detected in hazardous areas, for example in the blind spot when thevehicle wants to turn. Radar sensors offer the advantage that they mayhave very sharply delimited detection areas, and thus may reliablydetect road users in specific surroundings areas of the vehicle.

It is furthermore advantageous if absorbers for absorbing a portion ofthe sensor radiation are attached in the interior of the device.Absorbers may be provided which, for example, are implemented as foamedmaterial and have absorbing properties for electromagnetic radiation,for example in that metal particles are incorporated in the foamedmaterial. In addition or as an alternative, it is selectively alsopossible to use plastic material having a carbon content, as it isoffered in the market, for example, under the designation Cawiton®. Suchor similar absorbers may be attached at the inner sides of the devicewalls which are not pervious to radiation to reduce undesirablereflections.

In addition or as an alternative, it is also possible for absorbers tobe provided between the individual sensors within the device so that thesensors do not impair one another with their emitted and receivedoutput.

Instead of absorbers, it is also possible to use reflectors, it beingpossible to use only reflectors or to arbitrarily combine absorbers andreflectors with one another. Depending on the need for illumination ofthe desired detection areas and the reflections resulting in theprocess, absorbers and reflectors may also be installed in a mixedmanner.

The reflectors may be made from metal or be made up of metal-coatedplastic material and be designed and installed in such a way thatinterfering electromagnetic radiation is reflected into spatialdirections in which the sensor neither intends to detect nor othersensors or devices are attached and subject to interference. In thisway, the interfering electromagnetic radiation is reflected away intospatial directions in which no interferences are to be expected.

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, it isfurthermore advantageous if the surroundings sensors are LIDAR sensorsand/or video sensors. The material of the device which is pervious tosensor radiation and oriented in the direction of the sensor detectionarea may be pervious to the optical sensor radiation, for example toinfrared radiation. In this way, it is possible that infrared cameraswhich are able to detect objects in the vehicle surroundings areprotected and installed hidden from the observer and in a visuallyappealing manner.

It is furthermore advantageous if the surroundings sensors are providedfor monitoring the presence of objects in the blind spot of the vehicle.The surroundings sensors may have sensor detection areas which areoriented in such a way that objects in the blind spot of the vehicle aredetected. Such devices may, in particular, be situated in such a waythat their detection area monitors a blind spot of the vehicle, i.e., anarea of the vehicle surroundings which the driver cannot see.

It is furthermore advantageous if the device is attached at the vehiclein the area between the front axle and the rear axle. In the case ofvehicles including multiple rear axles, it is advantageous that thedevice is attached in the area between the front axle and the foremostrear axle. In the case of commercial vehicles in a ladder frame design,the area between the front axle and the foremost rear axle offers avariety of installation options, it being possible for devices, such asfuel tanks or exhaust gas devices, to already be installed in this area.It should be noted that the device is configured in such a way that itis set back inwardly at the frame of the vehicle, i.e., in relation tothe lateral vehicle silhouette, and the device in its dimensioning isthus configured in such a way that the outer side of the device finisheswith the vehicle silhouette. It is thus also particularly advantageousto attach the device adjoining the fuel tank of the vehicle or exhaustgas devices of the vehicle. It is furthermore advantageous that thedevice is attached above the fuel tank, in particular, between theoperator's cab and the utility superstructure of the vehicle. Theutility superstructure of the vehicle may, for example, be a cargo area,a box body, a tank superstructure or another superstructure of thevehicle, so that the device may be accommodated between the front edgeof this utility superstructure and the rear side of the operator's cab.The device may be oriented in such a way that the detection area isessentially oriented in the vehicle transverse direction, i.e., at aright angle with respect to the usual driving direction of the vehicle.

It is furthermore advantageous if the device is attached in each case onboth sides of the vehicle, in particular, in pairs on both sides.

It is pointed out that several of the options, features and advantagesof the present invention are described herein with reference todifferent specific example embodiments. Those skilled in the art willrecognize that the features may be suitably combined, adapted orexchanged to arrive at further specific embodiments of the presentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described hereafterbased on figures.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view onto the outline of a vehicleaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of an outline of the vehicleaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an outline of a cross section through the device accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a further outline of a cross section through the deviceaccording to the present invention, including a representation of onespecific embodiment of the absorbers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view onto a vehicle 1, which is equippedwith device 7 according to the present invention for surroundingssensors. Vehicle 1 is preferably a commercial vehicle, which is orientedin such a way that it normally drives oriented to the left in thedirection of driving direction 3. In the front area, this vehicle 1includes operator's cab 2 in which the driver and possibly the co-driverare situated, and below which the engine is usually installed.Furthermore, the wheels of front axle 4 are shown in the area ofoperator's cab 2. The wheels of the foremost rear axle, which areimplemented as dual tires in FIG. 1, are situated in the rear area ofvehicle 1, i.e., at the right edge of FIG. 1. Fuel tanks 6, which arealso schematically illustrated, are frequently situated between thewheels of front axle 4 and the wheels of the foremost rear axle 5 in thecase of commercial vehicles. Device 7 according to the presentinvention, which is provided to accommodate surroundings sensors, may beinstalled multiple times, for example directly behind the wheels of thefront axle or also between fuel tank 6 and the foremost wheels of rearaxle 5. Devices 7 are implemented as devices which may be installed atthe ladder frame of vehicle 1 directly or with the aid of a holdingdevice, or are attachable at other components, for example the fueltanks.

Devices 7 include one or multiple surroundings sensor(s), which is/areoriented in such a way that its/their detection area(s) 8 detect/detectsthe surroundings of vehicle 1. Only a single surroundings sensor may beinstalled in a device 7 in the process, as is illustrated, for example,in the two upper devices 7 in FIG. 1, or it may also include multiplesurroundings sensors, so that each of devices 7 includes two or moresurroundings detection areas 8, as was shown in the two lower devices 7of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of vehicle 1 according to the presentinvention. It is again oriented in such a way that it is usuallyoriented in driving direction 3, i.e., would drive to the left in FIG. 2when driving normally straight ahead. Vehicle 1 again includesoperator's cab 2 in which the driver and the co-driver are situated andwhich is situated on the engine compartment. Furthermore, the wheels offront axle 4 are shown, as well as the wheels of foremost rear axle 5 onwhich vehicle 1 is moving. Components of the vehicle, such as fuel tank6, are plotted again between the wheels of front axle 4 and the foremostwheels of rear axle 5. As an alternative to fuel tank 6, it is alsopossible that exhaust gas devices of vehicle 1 are provided, or boxeswith storage space for vehicle accessories are provided. Furthermore,devices 7 which are attached at the vehicle or vehicle components andaccommodate one or multiple vehicle surroundings sensor(s) according tothe present invention are shown between the wheels of front axle 4 andthe wheels of foremost rear axle 5. Furthermore, a utilitysuperstructure 18 is shown in FIG. 2, which represents a cargo area, abox body or other utility superstructures of the vehicle, depending onthe task for which the vehicle is intended. A space usually resultsbetween operator's cab 2 and utility superstructure 18 of the vehicle,in which according to the present invention a device for surroundingssensors 9 may be attached, which, for example, monitors the areaslaterally next to vehicle 1 with respect to further road users and isable to warn the driver.

FIG. 3 shows device 7 or device 9 for accommodating sensor devices in aschematic cross section. Housing shell 10 is apparent, which is designedto be open toward one side. The bottom as well as the side walls ofhousing shell 10 may advantageously be made from a material absorbingsensor radiation, so that sensor radiation from sensors 15 in theinterior of device 7, 9 does not penetrate in undesirable directions tothe outside or penetrates to the outside only in a very stronglyattenuated manner. Housing shell 10 is closed at the open side with theaid of a cover 12 made of material pervious to sensor radiation. Thematerial pervious to sensor radiation is matched to the wavelength ofsensors 15 situated in the interior, so that the sensor radiation isable to penetrate cover 12 of device 7 in the direction of sensor mainaxes 16 of sensors 15. Housing shell 10 may include mounting eyes 11 orfastening eyes 11, with the aid of which device 7, 9 may be attached atvehicle 1 or with the aid of a holder for device 7, 9. Device 7, 9furthermore includes connections 13, 14, with the aid of which sensors15 are connected in the interior of device 7, 9 to a power supply 13 aswell as, as an alternative or in addition, to a data bus system ofvehicle 1.

It is also possible not to design the connection to power supply 13 andthe connection to a data bus system 14 separately, but to design it withthe aid of a single, multi-core cable or wiring harness.

It is furthermore possible that each sensor 15 in the interior of device7, 9 includes a dedicated, i.e., separate, power supply 13 and/or aseparate connection to data bus system 14. As an alternative, it isfurthermore possible within the scope of the present invention that eachsensor 15 includes a dedicated, i.e., separate, connection, thisconnection in each case being made up of a combination of power supplyand data bus connection.

FIG. 4 shows the sensor system from FIG. 3 in a similar manner. Again,housing shell 10 is apparent, including mounting eyes 11 and cover 12which closes housing shell 10 and is installed in the detectiondirection of sensors 15 situated in the interior. Sensors 15 are shownin the interior of device 7, 9, which are able to emit and receivesensor radiation in the direction of sensor main axes 16. Device 7, 9shown in FIG. 4 of course also includes connections to a power supply 13and/or to a data bus system 14. Furthermore, absorbers 17 are plotted inFIG. 4, which are made from a material which is able to attenuate thewavelength used by sensors 15 particularly well, for example bypreferably completely absorbing the electromagnetic radiation of thiswavelength range.

These absorbers 17 shown in FIG. 4 are suitable for avoiding undesirablereflections in the interior of device 7, 9, suppressing emissions indirections other than in the desired directions of main beam directions16, as well as preferably suppressing a cross-talk or an interferencebetween sensors 15 within a device 7, 9. Sensors 15 in the interior ofdevice 7, 9 are fixedly installed in the process, preferably by beingfirmly fixed at housing shell 10 with the aid of fastening devices.Absorbers 17 may be configured in such a way that they are adapted tothe respective arrangement of sensors 15 in the interior of device 7, 9.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle comprising: a frame; an operator'scabin attached at a front section of the frame; a utility structureremovably attached to a rear section of the frame such that the utilitystructure is separated in a first direction from the operator's cabin byexterior space that is exterior from the vehicle; a sensor housing; andat least one surroundings sensor situated in the sensor housing;wherein: the sensor housing is attached to the frame such that thesensor housing is situated in the exterior space between the operator'scabin and the utility structure; and the sensor housing includes: afirst housing wall (a) that faces in a second direction perpendicular tothe first direction and (b) that is made from a material pervious tosensor radiation of the at least one surroundings sensor; and aplurality of other housing walls that do not face in the seconddirection and are made from a material which is impervious to, andabsorbs, the sensor radiation of the at least one surroundings sensor.2. The vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the first housing wall isa wall situated, relative to the at least one surroundings sensor, in adirection of a detection area of the at least one surroundings sensor,and the plurality of other housing walls include a wall situated in adirection opposite to the detection area.
 3. The vehicle as recited inclaim 1, wherein the at least one surroundings sensor has a shared powersupply and/or a shared connection to at least one data bus system of thevehicle.
 4. The vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least onesurroundings sensor includes radar sensors.
 5. The vehicle as recited inclaim 1, wherein absorbers for absorbing a portion of the sensorradiation are attached in an interior of the sensor housing.
 6. Thevehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one surroundingssensor includes LIDAR sensors and/or video sensors.
 7. The vehicle asrecited in claim 1, wherein the at least one surroundings sensor isconfigured to monitor presence of objects in a blind spot of thevehicle, and has a sensor detection area and is oriented in such a waythat objects in the blind spot of the vehicle are detected.
 8. Thevehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor housing is attached tothe frame of the vehicle in an area between a front axle of the vehicleand a foremost rear axle of the vehicle.
 9. The vehicle as recited inclaim 1, wherein the sensor housing is attached adjoining a fuel tank ofthe vehicle.
 10. The vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensorhousing is attached above a fuel tank of the vehicle.
 11. The vehicle asrecited in claim 1, further comprising a second one of the sensorhousings, wherein the sensor housings are attached on both sides of thevehicle.
 12. The vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein an exterior faceof the first housing wall is approximately flush with a plane of atleast one of a sidewall of the operator's cabin and a sidewall of theutility structure.
 13. The vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein theplurality of other housing wall include all exterior walls of thehousing other than the first housing wall.
 14. The vehicle as recited inclaim 1, wherein the sensor housing includes protrusions that protrudefrom at least one of the housing walls, each of the protrusions includesa respective mounting eye, and the attachment of the sensor housing tothe frame is via the mounting eyes.
 15. A vehicle comprising: a frame;an operator's cabin attached at a front section of the frame; a utilitystructure removably attached to a rear section of the frame such thatthe utility structure is separated in a first direction from theoperator's cabin by a portion of exterior space that is exterior fromthe vehicle; a sensor housing; and at least one surroundings sensorsituated in the sensor housing; wherein: the sensor housing is attachedto the frame such that the sensor housing is situated in the exteriorspace; and the sensor housing includes: a first housing wall (a) thatfaces in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and (b)that is made from a material pervious to sensor radiation of the atleast one surroundings sensor; and a plurality of other housing wallsthat do not face in the second direction and are made from a materialwhich is impervious to, and absorbs, the sensor radiation of the atleast one surroundings sensor.